Irish President Mary McAleese is to make official visits to Saudi Arabia and Jordan to promote her country's business interests, a spokeswoman said Friday.

McAleese leaves for the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah on Saturday, she said. During her two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the Irish president will be accompanied by her husband Martin McAleese and Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michael Ahern.

Upon her arrival for a three-day visit to Jordan Tuesday, McAleese will be joined by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

On Sunday she will call on King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz al-Saud in Riyadh after having met with Saudi businesswomen and delivered the keynote address at the seventh Annual Jeddah Economic Forum earlier.

McAleese will meet the governor of Riyadh, Prince Salman bin Abdel-Aziz, on Monday and address a business breakfast arranged by Enterprise Ireland, one of the country's industrial development agencies.

King Abdullah II and Queen Rania will officially welcome McAleese at the Basman Palace in Amman on Tuesday.

She will be guest of honor at a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit and will later meet religious leaders.

On Wednesday McAleese will address Jordan's Parliament.

She will meet the governing commissioners of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Area on Thursday and will later meet the Irish community in Amman.